The Art of Humanity: Toby Allen`s “Real Monsters”

Artist Toby Allen intended to
give mental illnesses some
substance and make them
appear more manageable as
physical entities.
“The project originated from
imagining my own anxieties as
monsters and finding it to be a
cathartic and healing process to
draw them,” Allen told The
Huffington Post. “It made them
feel weaker and I was able to
look at my own anxiety in a
comical way.”
The Art of Humanity:
Toby Allen’s
“Real Monsters”
To see all of Tony Allen’s “Real Monsters” please visit
http://zestydoesthings.tumblr.com/
All artwork
Tony Allen
C 2014
Disclaimer: The
artwork is not
at all intended
to make light of
these
conditions but
instead is
intended to
give these
intangible
mental illnesses
some substance
and make them
appear more
manageable as
physical entities
What do you hope your art work
does for others who are struggling
with these "monsters?”
I hope the work reminds people
struggling with their own “monsters”
that they are not alone in what they
are going through and that some of
these illnesses can be beaten or at
least managed. I want people to
laugh and smile when they see my
work and feel a little less negative
about themselves or their condition.
I also hope to draw attention to
mental illnesses that often get
ignored or aren’t taken seriously.
Anxiety disorder is a very good
example, the condition often being
seen as trivial or not serious enough
in my personal experience. I want to
raise awareness of how damaging
these illnesses can be and how much
of a burden they can be to those who
suffer from them.
NAMI Multnomah
524 NE 52nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97213
Help Line (503) 228-5692
www.namimultnomah.org
Board of Directors
Terri Pelham, President
Melissa Gonzales McNeal, VP
Barbara Besand, Treasurer
Bud Manley, Secretary
Cliff Bacigalupi, At-Large
Derald Walker, At-Large
Sylvia Zingeser, At-Large
Patricia Day TenEyck
Summer
2015
Executive Director
Volume
2 Issue 3
NAMI Multnomah
Begins the
Emergency Department Diversion
& Resource Navigation Program
And Introducing:
Sofia Jasani
NAMI Multnomah’s New
Education Programs Coordinator
Sofia Jasani brings her passion for helping others
enhance their mental health and wellness to her role
as Education Programs Coordinator at NAMI
Multnomah.
Sofia has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in
Education, with a dual certificate in General and
Special Education. She has two years of experience
as a graduate research assistant in the department of
Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, and four
years of experience teaching Special Education in the
South Bronx as a 2006 Teach for America Corps
Member. As a student at Goucher College in
Baltimore, MD, Sofia studied abroad three times; she
studied Law and Politics in London, Non-Profit
Management and Social Policy in South Africa, and
volunteered for a semester at Shishu Bhavan, Mother
Theresa’s orphanage in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Sofia believes in promoting a holistic approach to
both physical and mental wellness, and as such has
been teaching yoga and meditation since 2010. Sofia
is inspired by NAMI’s mission, and hopes to expand
outreach and services for underrepresented
populations, including: people of color, the LGBTQ
community, and at-risk youth for whom early
intervention could change the course of their lives.
Sofia is new to Portland, and loves the myriad
opportunities for outdoor adventures and plethora of
vegan food.
NAMI Multnomah is in the process of hiring two staff to work in
the Emergency Department Diversion & Resource Navigation
Program. This new program is designed to ensure that people
living with mental health conditions (“peers”) and their families or
other supporters gain knowledge and understanding of mental
health-related topics including mental health conditions, the system
of care, various treatment options, and community-based resources
and services. The Family Partner & Resource Navigator will assist
peers and/or their families to recognize and utilize their strengths
and natural supports, to develop safety and recovery plans,
overcome barriers to accessing care, and when necessary, support
them in finding basic needs, such as housing, transportation,
vouchers, and food assistance.
The Family Partner & Resource Navigators will work
approximately half-time with the families of youth under the age of
18 who have accessed Legacy Emanuel’s Emergency Department
because of a mental health crisis. The other half of their time will
be spent partnering with peers of any age and their families/friends
through appointments at NAMI Multnomah.
“We are all very excited to bring back the Navigator Program,” said
Executive Director Patricia Day TenEyck. “Almost from my first
day at NAMI Multnomah I have heard how wonderful the
program was and how much it has been missed. Pairing our vision
for the Navigators with the Emergency Department Diversion
Program’s Peer Support Specialists seemed like the perfect fit for
both programs.”
The Family Partner & Resource Navigators will work in concert
with our Help Line. Calling (503) 228-5692 will always be the first
step. If we can assist you in 15 or 20 minutes, the staff and
volunteers answering the phone will work with you. If you have
multiple questions and require more in-depth assistance, the Help
Line staff will help you to make an appointment to come in and
meet with a Navigator for a one-on-one appointment.
The Family Partners & Resource Navigators should be on board
and ready to begin working with peers and their families by the
middle of September. Watch your inbox for an announcement
from us saying the Navigators are open for business!
Funding for this program and the two new staff positions comes
from the Oregon Community Foundation, the Autzen Foundation
and Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Meet our new Navigators on Page 7!
News &
Opportunities
NAMI Multnomah Staff members,
Sofia Jasani and Sara Zusman
at Pioneer Courthouse Square for the
Flowers of Van Gogh Flower Sale!
Fall 2015
NAMI Class Schedules
All NAMI classes are FREE
All classes require pre-registration.
Please call our Resource Line for more information,
or to register – (503) 228-5692.
Family to Family – 12 weeks
Sept. 5 – Nov. 21
Saturday mornings - NE Portland |
9:30am – 12:00pm
Sept. 2 – Nov. 18
Wednesday evenings - SE Portland/Woodstock
|6:00pm – 8:30pm
Peer to Peer Classes – 10 weeks
A recovery, education course open to
individuals living with a serious mental illness.
Sept. 12 – Nov. 14
Saturday mornings - NE Portland
10:00am – 12:00pm
2015 Teacher and Presenter
Training Classes
Offered by NAMI Oregon
NAMI Multnomah is ALWAYS looking for new teachers,
support group facilitators and speakers, so if you are
interested in volunteering to do either of these things, please
contact us NOW! (503) 228-5692.
Connection Support Group Facilitator Training
September 26 & 27, 2015
Days Inn Portland South
9717 SE Sunnyside Road, Clackamas, OR 97015
(I-205 & Sunnyside Road)
Training full--applications being accepted for a waiting list
Family-to-Family Teacher Training
October 23-25, 2015
Comfort Inn & Suites
7640 SW Warms Springs St.
Tualatin, OR, 97062
Applications due by Friday, Oct. 9
Basics Teacher Training
November 6-8, 2015
Comfort Inn & Suites
7640 SW Warms Springs St.
Tualatin, OR, 97062
Applications due by Friday, Oct. 23
Peer Support Specialists Training
October 19-23 (Class is full)
January 25 – 29, 2016
NAMI Multnomah Support Groups
All NAMI support groups are FREE
No pre-registration required.
NAMI Connection Support Groups:
Recovery and support by and for people living with mental
illness
 Tuesdays | 11:00am – 12:30pm
Luke-Dorf, 1952 SE 122nd Ave.
 Tuesdays | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Macdonald Center, Meditation Room
605 NW Couch
 Wednesdays | 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Multnomah County East, 600 NE 8th, Gresham
 Thursdays | 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Lifeworks NW, 3716 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
 Saturdays | 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Providence Building B, 5228 NE Hoyt
Drop-In Family Support Groups:
For families of adults with mental illness
 Mondays | 6:00pm – 7:30pm
NAMI Multnomah, 524 NE 52nd, Portland
 2nd and 4th Thursdays | 6:30pm – 8:00pm
St. Henry Catholic Church (in the St. Henry
Parish school building, Rm. 7) 346 NW First
Ave., Gresham
Jennifer Pepin, Artist and raffle winner Moya Lehman
Beyond the Clouds, There are Stars
Photos from the Starry Night Reception
at the J. Pepin Art Gallery and the
Flowers of Van Gogh Flower Sale!
Both events were a BLAST!!
A Special Thank You to
Event Sponsors
Portland Police Bureau
Cascadia Behavioral Health
Meet Our Two New Navigators!
Prema Prabhakar comes to NAMI with a deep appreciation
for the integrity and resiliency of families navigating the complex
mental health system. Prema is grateful to be able to support the
mental and emotional health of families and individuals in the
new role of Family Partner/Resource Navigator. She believes in
the power of individual authenticity and creativity to building a
meaningful life in a difficult world.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets
today!
Saturday, September 12, 2015
DoubleTree by Hilton Portland
Prema grew up in New Jersey and received her B.A. from
Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She then moved westward
to California receiving both her M.A. and PhD. in Literature and
Critical Theory from the University of California, Santa
Cruz. Her dissertation project examined the way in which
female bodies, art, and the mental health system have created
new methods of witnessing for one another’s stories. During this
period of study, Prema also began working at Crisis Support
Services in Oakland, a phone and text line that supports the
National Lifeline. It was while working here that she formed a
deep commitment to suicide prevention and mental health
awareness.
Prema also has ten years of teaching experience in composition
and creative writing. While in Portland, she has worked as an
advocate at Raphael House and the Portland Women’s Crisis
Line. She loves to talk about books, cats, art, the history of
mental health and fashion!
Savannah Paz brings a history of advocacy for mental health
To benefit NAMI Clackamas County will
feature dinner and a live and silent auction.
For more information, or to purchase tickets
call 503-344-5050 or email maeve@namicc.org.
awareness and fighting mental health stigma to her new role as
ED Family Partner/ Resource Navigator at NAMI Multnomah.
Savannah began her journey in higher education at Portland
Community College where she was involved in student
leadership and worked as a peer advocate at the Women’s
Resource Center. Health equity and access to resources has
always been an important issue to Savannah and her values. This
led her to participate in a fellowship with the Oregon Latino
Health Coalition promoting Cover All Kids HB 3517 during her
final term of college. Savannah recently graduated from Portland
State University where she earned her B.A. in Community
Development with an emphasis on Social Change.
Savannah currently serves as Vice Chair for Trillium Family
Services board of trustees. She began as one of their clients and
has since evolved into one of their most vocal advocates. During
her time overcoming her own mental health barriers, Savannah
discovered the power of voice. She is committed to using her
voice to pursue positive community outcomes and social justice
by working in partnership within communities. Savannah is
honored to have the opportunity to contribute to NAMI’s
mission to improve the quality of life for people with mental
illness and their families through support, education and
advocacy. Savannah is a native to Portland where she enjoys life
with her partner and two beautiful sons.
Savannah Paz and
her lovely family!
Save the Date
FolkTime's
Annual Fundraising Luncheon
HARVEST at Huber's
October 25, 2015
11am-1pm at
Huber's Café
411 SW 3rd Ave,
For more information, please contact
Eden Leonard at eleonard@folktime.org